Salem and NEXT enter 10-year lease

Three weeks after the start of the school year, the first-year charter school and the town of Salem have agreed to a lease that will cover the use of the former middle and high school building and campus for the next ten years.  The town council approved the lease last night, after town attorney Brad Norton highlighted the provisions.  For the consideration of one dollar a year, the NEXT School at Eagle Ridge gets the use of four wings of the campus, along with the baseball field.  For the first year, Salem will be responsible for repairs and maintenance.  Should NEXT decide it wants to vacate the agreement early, a written notice is required 18 months in advance.  NEXT reserves the right to sub-lease part of the property to a business, such as that which Norton said, the school deems worthy of incorporating into its teaching curriculum.  NEXT is required to carry a liability insurance policy valued up to $1 million.  At the same time, Salem’s town insurance policy will also apply to the property and buildings.